Today in Bookish and Literary History, December 1

1840 Bon-Bon by Edgar Allen Poe US (My Review) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Edgar Allan Poe's short story about a self proclaimed philosopher, Pierre Bon-Bon, who has an encounter with the Devil and has a conversation with him.

1887 Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle UK

Being the first novel is the Holmes detective series by Doyle, A Study in Scarlet largely introduces the reader to the forthcoming series by Doyle.

1919 Mr Pim Passes By by AA Milne UK

A charming country estate, a respectable couple, and a peculiar visitor set the stage for delightful chaos in this sparkling comedy by A. A. Milne, best known for creating Winnie-the-Pooh.

1924 "La Révolution surréaliste" by André Breton FR

1997 Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris US

David Sedaris's beloved holiday collection is new again with six more pieces, including a never before published story.

1998 Amsterdam by Ian McEwan UK

A sharp contemporary morality tale, cleverly disguised as a comic novel, Amsterdam is "a dark tour de force, perfectly fashioned"

• Winner of the Booker Prize

2016 Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days by Jeanette Winterson UK

The perfect winter a beautifully illustrated book of Christmas stories and recipes from the Booker prize longlisted author of Frankissstein'Packed with charm and beautifully illustrated, it's a book that will solve your gift dilemmas and let you escape the less salubrious aspects of Christmas for a literary wonderland' StylistEverybody loves a Christmas story.

2024 Softie: Stories by Megan Howell US

In beautifully melancholy stories of magical realism, the women and girls in Softie transform their bodies and test their sanity, trying to find meaning in the loneliest of places.

• 2025 PEN America Finalist, Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection
• 2025 National Book Award Honoree, "5 Under 35"
• 2025 Gold Medal, Independent Publishing Book Awards (IPPY): Short Fiction

2024 The Answer Is No by Fredrik Backman Sweden

In a hilarious short story from New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control.

2025 Ten Thousand Light Years from Okay by Tracy Dobmeier US

A widowed and grieving young novelist believes her words create realities―both tragic and charmed―in a hopeful and surprising novel about family, newfound love, and moving on.

2025 Yours for the Season by Uzma Jalaluddin Canada

For an ambitious attorney and a rising-star chef, a cross-cultural fake romance takes an unexpected detour in a heartwarming and funny novel by the author of Much Ado About Nada and Ayesha at Last.

2025 The Lost Heiress by Elizabeth Klehfoth US

Wealthy heiress Saoirse Towers vanished during her eighteenth birthday gala four decades ago. Now her remains have finally been found under Cliffhaven, the aristocratic family’s mansion high atop the windswept Central Coast of California. But the mystery only deepens…for her skeleton is not alone.

2025 Artificial Truth by J.M. Lee South Korea

From J.M. Lee, a bestselling phenomenon in Korea, comes a haunting and mind-bending novel about the revolutionary possibilities of AI and the infinite mysteries of what it means to be human.

2025 The Wondrous Life and Loves of Nella Carter by Brionni Nwosu

When Death comes to claim Nella May Carter, she catches His interest with her capacity to find beauty and love even amidst the hell of slavery. So Death - bored, disgusted by humanity, and believing the Earth would be greatly improved should humans no longer exist - lures Nella into a Faustian bargain: the chance at immortal life if she proves that Death is mistaken.

2025 A London Haunting by Shani Struthers UK

A spine-tingling brand-new Christmas ghost story featuring the much-loved Lottie Beck from Alice — atmospheric, moving, and unforgettable. Perfect for fans of Susan Hill, Michelle Paver, Laura Purcell, and classic haunted-house fiction.